Abortion

Three Perspectives

Moving beyond traditional "liberal versus conservative" arguments for and against abortion, Abortion: Three Perspectives is an up-to-date, accessible, and engaging exploration of this highly contentious issue. Featuring a triangular debate between four prominent moral and political philosophers, it presents three different political perspectives: Michael Tooley argues the "liberal" pro-choice approach; Philip E. Devine and Celia Wolf-Devine argue the "communitarian" pro-life approach; and Alison M. Jaggar argues the "gender justice" approach. However, each of the authors' self-identifications is also challenged by one or more of the other authors, who offer alternative interpretations of liberalism, communitarianism, and feminism, as well as of what it means to be
pro-choice and pro-life.

Abortion

Three Perspectives

Description

Moving beyond traditional "liberal versus conservative" arguments for and against abortion, Abortion: Three Perspectives is an up-to-date, accessible, and engaging exploration of this highly contentious issue. Featuring a triangular debate between four prominent moral and political philosophers, it presents three different political perspectives: Michael Tooley argues the "liberal" pro-choice approach; Philip E. Devine and Celia Wolf-Devine argue the "communitarian" pro-life approach; and Alison M. Jaggar argues the "gender justice" approach. However, each of the authors' self-identifications is also challenged by one or more of the other authors, who offer alternative interpretations of liberalism, communitarianism, and feminism, as well as of what it means to be
pro-choice and pro-life. All of these viewpoints are controversial, among both philosophers and general readers. Furthermore, because the arguments do not rely on religious authority, they are directed at all readers, regardless of religious affiliation.Abortion: Three Perspectives is divided into two parts: the authors first develop their ideas in depth and then briefly critique the other positions. Drawing examples from real life, they also integrate logic and empirical data into their arguments and consider views of abortion across other disciplines. As philosophers, the authors possess expert skills in critical analysis; their debates provide students and other readers with a model of dialogue among those who very strongly disagree. Abortion: Three Perspectives is ideal for
courses in contemporary moral problems, introduction to ethics, bioethics, medical ethics, and feminist philosophy.

Abortion

Three Perspectives

Table of Contents

PrefaceAcknowledgmentsPART I. 1. ABORTION: WHY A LIBERAL VIEW IS CORRECT Michael Tooley1. Thinking about the Morality of Abortion and Discussing It with Others2. A Brief Overview of My Defense of a Liberal Position on Abortion3. Abortion and the Appeal to Religious Revelation4. The Appeal to an Immaterial, Rational Mind5. The Appeal to Psychological Capacities6. Two Biological Antiabortion Arguments7. Potentiality Arguments against Abortion8. The Identity of Persons and Biological Organisms Argument9. Are Moderate Positions on Abortion Tenable?10. The Moral Status of Abortion: A Final Summing Up2. ABORTION: A COMMUNITARIAN PRO-LIFE PERSPECTIVE Celia Wolf-Devine and Philip E.Devine1. Where We Are Now2. Methodology3. The Prima Facie Case against Abortion4. The Status of the Unborn5. The Pregnant Woman6. Questions of Law7. Policy Recommendations8. Role and Limits of Philosophy9. Conclusion3. ABORTION RIGHTS AND GENDER JUSTICE WORLDWIDE: AN ESSAY IN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY Alison M. Jaggar1. Introduction2. Mapping the Philosophical Terrain3. Liberalism and Feminism: Two Thin Commitments of Political Morality4. Designing Just Institutions in an Unjust World: Some Methodological Commitments5. Some Principles of Political Morality Salient to Abortion in the Real World6. Abortion: Human Rights, Gender Equality, and the Public Good7. Objections to Abortion
Rights8. ConclusionPART II. 4. Response to Alison M. Jaggar, Celia Wolf-Devine, and Philip E. Devine Michael TooleyComments on Alison M. Jaggar's EssayReply to Celia Wolf-Devine and Philip E. Devine1. Species Membership and the Right to Life2. The "Reductio" Objection, and the "Change-of-Address" Objection3. Potentialities and the Right to LifeSumming Up5. Response to Michael Tooley and Alison M. Jaggar Celia Wolf-Devine and Philip E. Devine1. Response to Tooley2. Response to Jaggar3. A Final Word6. Response to Michael Tooley, Celia Wolf-Devine, and Philip E. Devine Alison M. Jaggar1. Methodology2. Political Philosophy3. Reality4. Policy5. Sailing under True
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